WWII Soldier Identified After Decades: Pvt. 1st Class Clossie D. Brown
After nearly 80 years, U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Clossie D. Brown, a brave soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, has been officially accounted for. Born in Kirklin, Indiana, and later residing in Frankfort, Brown was a devoted husband, father, and employee who, at the age of 36, volunteered to serve his country despite having a secure life at home.
Official U.S. Army photo of PFC Clossie D. Brown.
The Battle in Alsace-Lorraine
Brown served in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, during the intense European Theater of World War II. On New Year’s Eve of 1944, German forces launched Operation NORDWIND, a major offensive in the Vosges Mountains of Alsace-Lorraine, France. This surprise attack overwhelmed the Allied defenses along a 40-mile-wide front, plunging the region into chaos and fierce combat.
In January 1945, Brown’s unit was stationed in a perilous sector near Reipertswiller and Wildenguth, France. The battle was brutal, with heavy artillery and mortar fire pinning down American troops. On January 21, 1945, amidst the ferocious fighting, Brown was killed. Due to the intensity of the battle, his body could not be recovered, and he was later declared missing in action.
With no evidence of his capture by German forces and no remains recovered, the War Department issued a “Finding of Death” for Brown in January 1946. Despite the tragic circumstances, Brown’s family and community held onto hope for his return or identification.
The Search for Brown
Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), tasked with recovering fallen American soldiers, began searching the Reipertswiller area. In June 1947, a French demining unit discovered human remains and Brown’s identification tag in the Obermuhlthal forest, near the battle site. These remains were designated X-5723 and were later interred at the U.S. Military Cemetery at St. Avold, France (now Lorraine American Cemetery). Unfortunately, due to the fragmentary nature of the remains, scientists at the time were unable to positively identify them as Brown.
However, DPAA historians continued their research into the soldiers who went missing during the combat near Wildenguth and Reipertswiller. They identified that X-5723, along with another set of remains designated X-8046 St. Avold, could likely belong to Brown. In June 2021 and August 2022, the Department of Defense and American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed these remains and transferred them to the DPAA Laboratory for further analysis.
Identification and Honoring Brown's Legacy
Using anthropological and circumstantial evidence, along with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, scientists were finally able to confirm the identity of Pvt. 1st Class Clossie D. Brown on April 25, 2024.
Brown's name is inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Epinal American Cemetery in Dinozé, France, a tribute to those still unaccounted for from WWII. With this recent identification, a rosette will be placed next to his name, signifying that he has been found.
Brown's remains will be returned to his hometown of Frankfort, Indiana, where he will be laid to rest on September 24, 2024. His return provides closure to his family, honoring a man who sacrificed everything to serve his country.
A Family Man and Patriot
Clossie D. Brown was more than a soldier; he was a dedicated family man. Prior to joining the Army in April 1944, Brown had a stable job at the Ingram-Richardson Company and was a loving husband to his wife, Mildred, and a father to their two children, Joan and David. Despite his responsibilities and the comfort of his life in Frankfort, Brown answered the call to duty during one of the most challenging times in American history. His decision to fight for his country, even in his late 30s, exemplifies his patriotism and sense of duty.
PFC Brown with his wife and two children.
As we remember Pvt. 1st Class Clossie D. Brown, we honor his courage and commitment to defending freedom, and we express our gratitude for the sacrifices made by him and countless others during World War II. His story, now complete, is a testament to the enduring spirit of those who fought for our nation.